A smooth evolutionary structural optimization procedure applied to plane stress problem

Topological optimization problems based on stress criteria are solved using two techniques in this paper. The first technique is the conventional Evolutionary Structural Optimization (ESO), which is known as hard kill, because the material is discretely removed; that is, the elements under low stress that are being inefficiently utilized have their constitutive matrix has suddenly reduced. The second technique, proposed in a previous paper, is a variant of the ESO procedure and is called Smooth ESO (SESO), which is based on the philosophy that if an element is not really necessary for the structure, its contribution to the structural stiffness will gradually diminish until it no longer influences the structure; its removal is thus performed smoothly. This procedure is known as "soft-kill"; that is, not all of the elements removed from the structure using the ESO criterion are discarded. Thus, the elements returned to the structure must provide a good conditioning system that will be resolved in the next iteration, and they are considered important to the optimization process. To evaluate elasticity problems numerically, finite element analysis is applied, but instead of using conventional quadrilateral finite elements, a plane-stress triangular finite element was implemented with high-order modes for solving complex geometric problems. A number of typical examples demonstrate that the proposed approach is effective for solving problems of bi-dimensional elasticity. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Image Re-Ranking Acceleration on GPUs

Huge image collections are becoming available lately. In this scenario, the use of Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) systems has emerged as a promising approach to support image searches. The objective of CBIR systems is to retrieve the most similar images in a collection, given a query image, by taking into account image visual properties such as texture, color, and shape. In these systems, the effectiveness of the retrieval process depends heavily on the accuracy of ranking approaches. Recently, re-ranking approaches have been proposed to improve the effectiveness of CBIR systems by taking into account the relationships among images. The re-ranking approaches consider the relationships among all images in a given dataset. These approaches typically demands a huge amount of computational power, which hampers its use in practical situations. On the other hand, these methods can be massively parallelized. In this paper, we propose to speedup the computation of the RL-Sim algorithm, a recently proposed image re-ranking approach, by using the computational power of Graphics Processing Units (GPU). GPUs are emerging as relatively inexpensive parallel processors that are becoming available on a wide range of computer systems. We address the image re-ranking performance challenges by proposing a parallel solution designed to fit the computational model of GPUs. We conducted an experimental evaluation considering different implementations and devices. Experimental results demonstrate that significant performance gains can be obtained. Our approach achieves speedups of 7x from serial implementation considering the overall algorithm and up to 36x on its core steps.

Energy Requirements in Early Life Are Similar for Male and Female Goat Kids

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Solution to bilharmonic equation with vanishing potential

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo teórico da contribuição à dose de partículas secundárias geradas por prótons de energias entre 100 e 200 MeV num Phantom de substituto de tecido MS20

The goal of this project is the reproduction, through the simulation code based on the MCNPX (Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended) v2.50 method, of the proton beam interaction with the material, since, in proton therapy, only the particle ionization and excitation are analyzed and the occurence of nuclear interactive inelastic process are not considered. This work will help the development of studies concerning the contribution to the total dosis of secondary particles generated by nuclear interaction in proton therapy. They are: alpha particles ( ), deuterium(2H), tritium (3H), neutron (n) and helium (3He). A MS20 tissue substitute phantom was used as the target and the energy of the proton beams was within an interest range of 100 to 200MeV. With the results obtained, it was possible to generate graphics which allows the analysis of the dosis deposition relation with and without nuclear interaction, the percentage of secondary particles deposited dosis, the radial dispersion of neutrons in the material, the secondary particles multiplicity, as well as the relation between the secondary particles spectrum with the próton generated spectrum

Desenvolvimento de um jogo educacional de cunho sócio-histórico

With the technology evolution for school proposals, became necessary the creation and modifica- tion of the pedagogical paradigms applied in the classroom. With this in mind, this monograph attempts to explain clearly and succinctly how to develop a complete game, following the precepts of appropriate pedagogy and software engineering steps, explaining the main entertainment devices and graphics suitable for the student’s intellectual development. Therefore, it is studied throughout this academic work, the complete process of development, making use of the development language ActionScript 3.0 , aided by some other technologies, show- ing that the use of technology articles in the classroom is possible and highly indicated

Avaliação do uso de fantomas antropomórficos na análise experimental dos fatores que afetam o contraste de imagens radiográficas

This experimental study aimed the evaluation of the use of anthropomorphic phantoms in the analysis of the influence of the acquisition parameters in the contrast of radiographic images. The analyzed factors were the variation of the peak kilovoltage (kVp) and the product of the filament circuit by the time of exposition (mAs). The influence of these factors was verified for different anthropomorphic phantoms: foot, knee and chest. The image contrast behavior with the simulators was compared to values obtained with the use of an aluminum ladder being the behavior of this reference for analysis and discussion. To assure the reproducibility of images, quality control tests were made and evaluation of procedure conditions before the experiments. The results obtained are shown in a scale of images where it was possible to evaluate the impact in the darkness of images. Regions with different compositions were analyzed which were different in image, this way the values of optical density and contrast are represented as charts and graphics. We conclude that the use of anthropomorphic phantoms in the evaluation of the influence of tension of the tube and time of exposition in the contrast of the radiographic images is not indicated for a quantitative analysis through optical density, once they present incompatible results with the data as reference as the aluminum ladder even so these simulators present a great property in qualitative analysis regarding the differentiation of structures and subjective evaluations

O clima urbano de Assis/SP: estudo comparativo da temperatura e umidade relativa entre a cidade e o campo

It is known that the urban environment modifies the energy balance between the surface and the atmosphere, causing changes in temperature, relative humidity, among other things, opening the way for studies aimed at urban climatology. Based on the theme of urban climate, this research focuses on the city of Assis, located west of São Paulo. The generation of urban climate is a result of various factors, among which stand out: the use and different land use, the thermodynamic properties of buildings, number of buildings in the urban, socioeconomic activities, etc.. In general, this increases the temperature and reducing relative humidity, providing thermal discomfort. The rural environment is used for comparison studies to this theme by presenting different characteristics in relation to the structure, morphology and urban functionality. The main objective of this study is to determine the characteristics of temperature and humidity environments with the habits and occupations of the different soils in winter, at night, one inserted into the urban fabric of Assis and the other in the rural environment, to verify for evidence of changes in climatic elements because of urbanization. To collect the data will be used mini automatic weather stations that record data on temperature and humidity. For analysis of the results will be made between the data obtained in the city and the countryside, developing graphics application using Excel to tabulate the data. It was found that there were differences in the thermo-hygrometric data collection points, showing a specific urban climate in the city of Assis

Resistividade elétrica em aterro sanitário e relações com a produção de biogás

The landfill biogas can be an alternative energetic resource as a fuel to electrical energy generators, although, there are not too many techniques to prospect the gas. Usually, landfills receive home waste, which in most are constituted by organic matter whose degradation by anaerobic activity produces the biogas. Geophysics is an important tool in environmental studies and the electrorresistivity, an important method employed in contaminated areas by slurry or necroslurry, including a monitoring for each contaminator flow. The electrorresistivity has not too much application in finding biogas. For this work, two biogas drains in Rio Claro-SP landfill were selected: one whose waste disposition correspond to the initial activities in the landfill and another drain whose disposition started more recently. The result consists in a higher biogas production if compared to the biogas from the older drain. The present paper consists in a monitoring along one year, with dates collection in each fifteen days. These dates were tabled in Excel 2010 program and graphics of resistivity x depth were generated. Hereafter, most variable resistivity values depth were chosen, to further graphics pluviosity x resistivity generation in Grapher 8 program and the biogas output (m³/h) in monitoring period. The use of pluviosity parameter can be justified by its influence above resistivity. The results show that there is a horizon with possibly biogas accumulation. Lastly, the method was effective, although, for any application of geophysical methods, the knowledge about its limitations is necessary; in this case the influence of pluviosity and also that the measurements were made in one single point, it will not show any side variation

Monitoramento de processos multivariados autocorrelacionados

Technological advances and the availability of computational resources have been facilitating the collection and processing of data. Thus, the natural tendency of the monitoring processes is the simultaneous control of various quality characteristics. In automated processes, observations are generally autocorrelated. Studies with univariate graph for processes have shown that the autocorrelation reduces the ability of this signal changes in the process. In this paper, we study the multivariate autocorrelated processes. Through simulations are obtained properties of graphs, monitoring the mean vector, the properties of graphs VMAX, in monitoring the covariance matrix, and the properties of graphs MCMAX, the simultaneous monitoring of mean vector and covariance matrix. Conclude that increasing the autocorrelation and the number of variables being monitored, reduces the power of the graphics in signal of a special cause

Avaliação da presença de tecnologias de informação e comunicação no ensino de histologia das universidades de odontologia do estado de São Paulo

In recent decades the rise of the tools of information and communication technology (ICT) has been notorious. Currently ICTs are an important educational tool and is associated with the development of teaching methods courses in basic and higher education. Given the influence that these tools are currently engaged in several sectors, this project aimed to assess the frequency and manifestations of ICT that have been employed in the teaching of histology in the Schools of Dentistry of São Paulo. The virtual page of 43 Higher Education Institutions (HEI) was analyzed to search for links to sites of histology. With this assessment only 4 virtual domains were found which was present a narrow range of virtual tools such as hypertext, graphics, quizzes and lessons in electronic formats. Later, by sending a questionnaire to 46 teachers of histology of the Universities of São Paulo, were analyzed for the presence or absence of a site of discipline, mode and frequency of use of ICTs in education, and the value that teacher attaches to these tools. From the responses obtained were concluded that teachers who have websites in general have no interactivite tools and many seem to ignore the real representation of interactivity in teaching and the possibilities of applications of ICTs. However most teachers recognize the importance of education mediated by virtual tools

A seleção dos conteúdos cartográficos presentes na proposta curricular dos cadernos São Paulo faz escola de geografia do 6. ano do ensino fundamental II

Cartography is one of the languages that express the knowledge of the geographic space and, therefore, the official curriculum proposals have highlighted the importance of the geography teaching which articulates its contents with this language in primary education. So, we present an analysis of the content selected to the curriculum mapping specifications of the São Paulo faz escola material, specifically for the 6th year of Elementary School II, version 2009. From the perspective of qualitative research, with instruments and techniques of quantitative and qualitative research, we analyzed documents and observed little concern with the proposition works that present the physical and social characteristics of the state of São Paulo. Also, we noticed the lack of concern with representations in local and regional scales. The research brings many examples on the global scale. It explores few activities using graphics and charts. Despite bringing thematic maps in their entirety, it does not show an example of conical projection as well as cartograms and anamorphosis. Furthermore, the trend of a technicist education is announced in the document

Estudo e caracterização térmica da curcumina e de uma forma polimórfica

This paper was prepared a polymorphic from of curcumin a natural bioactive compound widely used in Indian medicine in the treatment of a range of illnesses. The preparation was the polymorphic crystallization process and solvent mixtures of organic solvents in order to change the dielectric constant of the solution to obtain crystals. The crystal of curcumin has been studied and characterized by absorption spectroscopic in the infrared, X-ray diffraction powder method and by thermo analytical techniques: thermogravimetry and differential therma analysis (TG-DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC of the pure compound (MP=180,19ºC) showed some differences compared the compound crystallized (MP=176.63ºC) in a mixture of solvents thus indicating the phenomenon of polymorphism, and TG-DTA curve of the compound crystallized showed that this was not a solvatomorphic. Finnally the techniques of X-ray diffraction technique FTIR and powder showed a structural change in the compound crystallized, profile-based graphics when compared to the pure compound, which proves that the compound crystallized it is a polymorph

Estudo teórico da contribuição a dose de partículas secundárias geradas por prótons de energias entre 100-200 MeV num phantom de músculo estriado

In the treatment plans in conventional Proton therapy are considered only the elastic interactions of protons with electrons and/or nuclei, it means, mainly ionization and coulomb excitation processes. As the energy needed to reach the deep tumors should be of several hundred of MeVs, certainly the nuclear inelastic channels are open. Only some previous studies of the contribution of these processes in the full dose have been made towards targets composed of water. In this study will be presented the results of the simulation of the processes of interaction of beams of protons in the range of 100-200 MeV of energy with a cylindrical phantom composed by striated muscle (ICRU), emphasizing in the contribution to total dose due to the deposition of energy by secondary particles alpha (α), deuterium (2H), tritium (3H), neutron (n) and hélio3 (3He), originated by nuclear inelastic processes. The simulations were performed by using the method of Monte Carlo, via the computer code MCNPX v2.50 (Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended). The results will be shown demonstrated through the graphics of the deposited dose with or without nuclear interaction, the percentual of dose deposited by secondary particles, the radial dispersion of neutrons, as well as the multiplicity of secondary particles

Análise estatística da vida em fadiga de compósitos estruturais pela distribuição de Weibull

Nowadays technological trend is based on finding materials that could support low weight with satisfactory mechanical properties and for this reason composite material became a very attractive topic in research projects all over the world. Due to its heterogenic properties, this type of material shows scatter in mechanical test results, especially in cyclic loading. Therefore it is important to predict its fatigue strength behaviour by statistic analysis, once fatigue causes approximately 90% of the failure in structural components. The present work aimed to investigate the fatigue behaviour of the Twill/Cycom 890 composite, which is carbon fiber reinforced with polymeric resin as matrix and manufactured via RTM process (Resin Transfer Molding). All samples were tested in different tensile level in triplicate in order to associate these values. The statistical analysis was conducted with Two-Parameter Weibull Distribution and then evaluated the fatigue life results for the composite. Weibull graphics were used to determine the scale and shape parameters. The S-N curve for the Twill/Cycom composite was drawn and indicated the number of cycles to occur the first damages in this material. The probability of failure was associated with material reliability, as shown in graphics for the different tensile levels and fatigue life. In addition, the laminate was evaluated by ultrasonic inspection showing a regular impregnation. The fractographic analysis conducted by SEM showed failure mechanisms for polymeric composites associated to cyclic loadings ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)